Churchill High School student Daniel Edelen, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's National Man of the Year, poses with Bella Mazuca, LLS San Antonio's Girl of the Year.

When Daniel Edelen was diagnosed with leukemia at age 7, his loved ones stayed by his side throughout his treatment.

Today, the Churchill High School student also credits his family with encouraging him to use his experience to raise awareness and support for other leukemia survivors.

“My parents are both on the board of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS),” Edelen said.

“And they asked me to run for Man of the Year. I wanted to give back and try to help other kids not have to go through what I went through.”

Edelen's campaign brought the community together to raise $466,000 in 10 weeks for LLS' South Central Texas chapter — the most raised by an individual nationwide in the LLS' Man and Woman of the Year campaign. For his efforts, he is being given the 2013 Man of the Year award by the national organization.

Edelen led all 850 fellow fundraisers from across the country. Altogether, competitors raised more than $22.4 million nationally in this year's contest.

As Carolyn Hensarling Arizpe, LLS special events senior director, explained, the society's local chapter has participated in the Man and Woman of the Year competition for five years.

Edelen's campaign helped the San Antonio region to surpass $1 million in funds raised for the first time ever.

“San Antonio individuals and businesses really came through in a big way supporting Daniel,” she said. “We are very proud to lead the entire country.”

The campaign was a true team effort. Edelen's teachers and classmates at Churchill helped him through word of mouth, collection jars, and other grassroots efforts.

“My classmates have supported me all along,” he said, “even before the campaign.”

On a larger scale, his father Chris explained, Edelen's family “formed a campaign team that went out and secured many corporate sponsorships and donations. We also had several companies that volunteered to help us get the word out.”

One such company, Clear Channel Media, even dedicated one of its local radio stations, Q101.9, to Edelen for a day, replacing its commercials with public service announcements featuring personalities such as ex-Spur Bruce Bowen, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and Peyton Manning - and hosting an auction that raised almost $60,000.

Through Edelen's journey - from his regular participation in LLS' Light the Night Walk to his Man of the Year campaign - he and his family have maintained the same attitude: “be hopeful.”

During years of chemotherapy, surgeries, blood transfusions and cranial radiation, it is Daniel's hopefulness through it all that family members recall best. Daniel has been off treatment for six years.

“We heard from many people,” Chris Edelen said, “that seeing and hearing Daniel's story gave them hope, either for themselves or for a child or grandchild who has cancer.

“Being available in the community created a significant amount of awareness. And knowing that we truly were making a difference in many people's lives made it all worthwhile.”

When Edelen was named LLS' national Man of the Year, he and his family were both surprised and honored.

“I am thankful for all the support that our team and so many other people gave my campaign,” Daniel said.

“It was a very proud moment that our efforts were recognized nationally,” Chris Edelen added, “and that will only help more and more kids each year moving forward.”

This fall, Edelen and his family will travel to New York City to accept his Man of the Year award. He will also return to Churchill for his junior year.

“I plan to finish high school, go to college and get a degree. And I will continue to support LLS in whatever way I can,” he added.